Nigerian pleads guilty to stealing

A NIGERIAN man has pleaded guilty on one count of stealing by false pretence where he got K2,000 from a girl and her father by telling them that he had a package containing US$1.7 million (K5.7 million) waiting for them and that he would marry the girl.
Victor Ifeanyi Chukweto, 42, from Asaga city in Delta, Nigeria, appeared on Friday at the Waigani District Court.
It is believed that Chukweto had been communicating with 19-year-old Rebecca Tindipo on social media’s Facebook Messenger since August last year.
Chukweto used the name “Colavita Smith” and claimed that he was a soldier and they would get married after he completed his duties in Afghanistan.
He told Tindipo he needed K2,000 to pay for customs clearance and claim the package.
Tindipo, from Kutubu, Southern Highlands, told her father Thomas and they flew to Port Moresby on Sept 21 as “Coltavia Smith” told them to come to the city and give the money to a person who would help them make clearance and receive the package.
The next day Chukweto called Tindipo and identified himself as “Mr Steve” and told her that he had the package from “Coltavia Smith” and he needed the K2,000.
Chukweto then asked to meet Tindipo at Coca-Cola Amatil, Gordon.
Tindipo, accompanied by her father and her brother,went to the location but Chukweto did not appear.
He later told her that he wanted to meet her alone.
On Sept 23, Chukweto told Tindipo to meet him at Island Fuel Station, Waigani. She went with her father by taxi and picked him up.
Tindipo’s father gave Chukweto K2,000, who took the money and asked for another K3,700 before customs clearance would be done as K2,000 was equivalent to US$600.
Tindipo’s brother Anthony intervened after learning that Chukweto had asked for money.
He questioned Chukweto on the deal and when he realised the Nigerian could not answer properly, he called the police.
Chukweto does not have a PNG passport and his reason for being in the country is unknown.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar accepted Chukweto’s guilty plea and adjourned the case to June 21 to allow police prosecutor chief sergeant Eafare Pirika and Chukweto’s lawyer Agnes Peter from the public solicitors’ office to make submissions for sentencing.